Solano Land Trust needs $3M more to buy land

Solano Land Trust extended its campaign to pull in enough money to buy Rockville Trails.

The 1,500 acres of Rockville Trails is a sensitive habitat that forms the southwest gateway to the Western Hills of the Blue Ridge Berryessa Natural Area.

"The location is absolutely beautiful," said Deanna Mott, associate director of Solano Land Trust. "The views are amazing, you forget you're in Solano County."

Mott said since Rockville Trails will tie into more trails, it makes it a real treasure for the region, not just a local asset.

The Land Trust secured an option to buy the property for a total of $13.5 million as a result of a legal settlement with Solano County. To date, $8.5 million of the purchase price has been secured through public and private grants and individual donations. Additionally, the land trust anticipates receiving another $2 million in July.

That leaves $3 million still needed to complete the purchase by July 31.

If Solano Land Trust succeeds in securing the necessary funds to purchase the property, it will be preserved as an accessible natural park, a working ranch and add a significant swath of protected contiguous native habitat to the region.

"It is thrilling to have gotten so close to our fundraising goals, and we are grateful for the additional time to finish raising the necessary funds to purchase this special property," said Nicole Byrd, executive director of Solano Land Trust, in a press release. "We are calling on all Bay Area residents who enjoy spending time outdoors to consider supporting this effort. This is the kind of opportunity that we may not see again for decades, particularly once land prices start increasing in the future."

The trails on the property will be open for equestrian uses in addition to hiking and biking. The property is intended to ultimately connect trails and natural areas from Fairfield to Skyline Wilderness Park in the Napa Valley and the Napa River as part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail.

Rockville Trails is home to a wide variety of native flora and fauna, including 800-year-old oak trees and native grassland, bobcats, deer and coyotes. The undeveloped site, according to Byrd, features steep hills and plateaus and is rich in biological resources, including sensitive species and rare habitats, such as broad grass savannahs as well as blue oak and coast live oak woodlands. Rockville Trails is a key entry point into the Blue Ridge Berryessa Natural Area, 800,000 acres of intact habitat that stretches from Solano County into Lake County. The property also falls within watershed lands that drain into Suisun Marsh and creeks that host endangered steelhead trout.

"We believe that part of what makes the Bay Area a great place to live is easy access to natural park areas," said Jim Syar, president of Syar Industries, Inc.

"We hope that other local businesses and philanthropies will join us in supporting this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Susan Syar, president of The Syar Foundation, which recently pledged $75,000.

Byrd feels very hopeful that another $2 million will be approved by the Wildlife Conservation Board in May, which leaves Solano Land Trust to raise another $3 million to reach its goal.

The land trust is well on its way to reaching their goal.

Mott said an anonymous local donor recently gave $200,000 as a challenge to other resident to match the private gift.

"The private gifts really show the commitment of the local people," Mott said. "It was a very nice surprise."

To learn more about Rockville Trails or to make a donation to help secure its future as public trails and habitat, visit www.solanolandtrust .org/SaveRTE.aspx.

"I hope the entire Bay Area will join with us in protecting this extraordinary property by helping us reach our fundraising goal," Byrd said. "Time is of the essence."